Devils may play season without a captain: report

"There is no rush for this. I'm not sure we'll have one," Shero said. "Maybe we will. I don't want to paint myself into a corner by saying we'll have one and we don't, or we won't have one and we do.

"If we choose a captain it will be a combination of the head coach [John Hynes] and myself. If we pick one out, it will be after due consideration. And hopefully it will be the right choice."

Shero said a decision could be made during training camp in September when he and Hynes get a better feel for the team. Defenseman Bryce Salvador, the captain for the past three seasons, was limited to 15 games because of injury. The 39-year-old is an unrestricted free agent.

Veteran defenseman Andy Greene, who was an alternate captain last season, and forward Adam Henrique are among the players who may be considered.

The Devils open camp on Sept. 10 when rookies report to take their physicals. Veterans will arrive on Sept. 17.

"Hopefully it's apparent to us," Shero said. "You have to keep in mind: Who would that person be and would that affect their game? There is responsibility with those things. It's a big responsibility and it's not for a lot of guys. Salvador did a real good job with it and guys before him did. All those things will go into consideration."

The Devils were 32-36-14 last season, 20 points out of the second wild card from the Eastern Conference into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and missed the postseason for the third consecutive year.

New Jersey hired Shero to replace Hockey Hall of Fame member Lou Lamoriello as general manager on May 4. Shero hired Hynes as the fourth Devils coach in five years on June 2, and Lamoriello resigned as president to become GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 23.

New Jersey begins the regular season Oct. 9 against the Winnipeg Jets at Prudential Center.